Word Origin & History

tissue mid-14c., "band or belt of rich material," from O.Fr. tissu "a ribbon, headband, belt of woven material" (c.1200), noun use of tissu "woven, interlaced," pp. of tistre "to weave," from L. texere "weave" (see texture). The biological sense is first recorded 1831, from Fr., introduced c.1800 by Fr. anatomist Marie-François-Xavier Bichal (1771-1802). Tissue-paper is from 1777, supposedly so called because it was made to be placed between tissues to protect them. Meaning "piece of absorbent paper used as a handkerchief" is from 1929.

Example Sentences for tissue

She lined the hat with, tissue paper and then, put it on his head again.

The covers were electrified and clung to him like tissue to rubbed amber.

He was wrapping the beautiful smell again in the tissue wrappings.

He pointed to the ring and the bit of tissue paper on the table.

Still staring, Lépine handed him the second sheet of tissue.

Which goes to prove that the "tissue paper world" is yet of heroic fibre.

I heard it, and from the beginning to the end it was a tissue of vulgarity and falsehood.

Achromatic: free from color; tissue that does not stain readily.

Yet I took up my shovel again with a body that rebelled in every tissue.

The third covering was a wrapper of tissue paper, which was spread out in its turn.